What about using the offer of another job to negotiate a pay increase in your current job? How does that work? Can it be done via email? Don't really like speaking to my boss in the flesh. He's a bit of a waffler.

Have you tried asking for a pay rise? Do you have 1:1 meetings with your manager? You could always try putting a case togheter as to why you think you should be paid more, if you genuinely think you should..rather than just wanting more money

I earn about £5k a year and I'm happier than I've ever been. Of course I'll run tours and make money from that to bump it up, and get tips but it only adds about about £100 a month tops. I have time to do what I want and I'm fulfilled and I actually love my job on top of all that, it's not just a means to an end which is what it started as so that I could have the flexibility to do my own work too.

My current job doesn't exactly pay a lot (my age is bigger than my age) but any interesting looking jobs I see advertised would mean a paycut. I never have any money left at the end of the month and have no savings so instead I'll probably just stay here FOREVER

most jobs are much of a muchness, the only thing that I think I'd find reallyyyyy interesting would require at least 4 more years of effort. Most people I know who have already done it tell me it's not really worth it and I probably have the wrong idea of what it would be like any way.

then I'd go for it. Your rent is insanely cheap, you'd have endless holidays, you'd presumably be doing next to nowt for that, sounds fucking sweet. Anyway, when are we both getting jobs at Unicorn? Will they let you work there if you're not a veggie?

If anything, it'll be good interview practice. You can always try to negotiate if they really love you.

Saying that, its all dependent on your life at the moment. How much spare money would that give you a month? As long as I have enough to sort of continue my lifestyle at the moment, I wouldn't mind too much.

But in my current job, three months in, I was headhunted and asked to go work for someone, and the pay offered was 20k more than what I'm on now. An insane amount for me and my lack of expertise and skills.

Anyway, I considered it and talked to my boss about it and mentioned that I was considering it because the pay was much better. He went away and thought about it and came back offering a pay rise. Which I accepted.

My point is, can you not apply for the job you want, and then if you get to interview stage ask if there is any lenience in salary? Not only may this suggest to them that you are serious and committed to working for them, but will also show that you are confident in your abilities and feel you salary should reflect that?

across a lot different to what I was meant to come across as.
It wasn't supposed to be pretty thinly veiled, nothing of the sort & the biggest reason for not taking it was because I knew I was way out of my depth professionally.

I give up trying to give advice only coming across as a massive penis anyway.

how have they explained it? Does the explanatoin make it more or less lucrative than you'd thought?

if less, can you live on the salary?

(quick questoin: how secure is your tenancy at present. Because IIRC you pay a very low rent for agreat house. If tha is secure then surely you can tweak some other outgoings to make this work? My only fear for you is that something happens and that lease is terminated and you have to find somewhere else for that £,because I think you struck gold in your current place.)

Is there anything to be lost for interviewing about this? does your current boss know/ mind?

I can 'live' on it, for sure. Might be a struggle but I can adapt, or get a second job.

Tenancy is very secure. Once I've been in current flat for one year I go from an assured shorthold tenancy to *something I've forgotten the name of* which means I can ONLY be evicted if I breach any of the rental terms. I'm renting privately but it's through a housing association, hence the cheapness and security.

you have nothing to lose by going for this. your current job leaves you unfulfilled, and while many people can deal with that, I don't think you are one of them and, regardless of all that, it feels like maybe time for a cahnge for you anyway.